Cedar of Lebanon (cedrus libani)
SKU:
£1.75
£1.25 - £51.00
per item
Seed Prices
1 gram (approx 12 seeds) £1.25
2 grams (approx 25 seeds) £1.75
5 grams (approx 62 seeds) £3.50
10 grams (approx 123 seeds) £6.25
25 grams (approx 309 seeds) £13.75
50 grams (approx 617 seeds) £26.50
100 grams (approx 1235 seeds) £51.00
The Lebanon Cedar is widely planted as an ornamental tree in parks and large gardens, often being planted in landscape avenues, and as focal point trees in large parks and gardens. It is a tree native to Lebanon, Palestine, Israel, northwest Jordan, western Syria, and south central Turkey.
Fairly slow growing with trees rarely averaging much more than 30-40cm (12-15 inches) height increase per year. Despite this rather steady growth it is a very large growing tree capable of reaching up to 40 m (130 ft) tall, with a trunk up to 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) in diameter, so it needs plenty of space to reach its full potential.
The crown is pyramidal when young with rather upright, stiff leading shoots, this slowly becomes broader and flat-topped with age with wide spreading flattened fairly level tiered branches with the lower ones sweeping down to the ground .
They can be very long lived, to 300 years or more in cultivation with exceptional massive specimens in Lebanon reputed to be over 1000 years old.
In its natural range this species grows in high mountains that are bitterly cold and snowy in winter and hot and dry in the summer. Evidently this is a tough and adaptable tree that thrives on most soils including dry chalk and limestone soils. It is very drought tolerant when it is established.
Not tolerant of air pollution but is the most cold hardy of all the true cedars. It is difficult to transplant except when small and it does not tolerate shade.
Germination and after care information sent with every purchase
Fairly slow growing with trees rarely averaging much more than 30-40cm (12-15 inches) height increase per year. Despite this rather steady growth it is a very large growing tree capable of reaching up to 40 m (130 ft) tall, with a trunk up to 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) in diameter, so it needs plenty of space to reach its full potential.
The crown is pyramidal when young with rather upright, stiff leading shoots, this slowly becomes broader and flat-topped with age with wide spreading flattened fairly level tiered branches with the lower ones sweeping down to the ground .
They can be very long lived, to 300 years or more in cultivation with exceptional massive specimens in Lebanon reputed to be over 1000 years old.
In its natural range this species grows in high mountains that are bitterly cold and snowy in winter and hot and dry in the summer. Evidently this is a tough and adaptable tree that thrives on most soils including dry chalk and limestone soils. It is very drought tolerant when it is established.
Not tolerant of air pollution but is the most cold hardy of all the true cedars. It is difficult to transplant except when small and it does not tolerate shade.
Germination and after care information sent with every purchase
Germination, Sowing and After Care Information for
Cedar of Lebanon (cedrus libani)
Cedar of Lebanon seeds have only shallow natural dormancy and require only a short period of cold stratification to enable germination to occur. The seed should first be soaked in water at room temperature for 24 hours. The water should be then drained off and the seeds mixed with a little clean,damp sand or damp vermiculite and placed in a clear plastic bag (freezer bags are good!) at temperatures between 3-5 Celsius (37-41 Fahrenheit) which is about the temperatures found in your fridge.
It is essential that the seeds are not waterlogged in the plastic bag or they may rot.
This pretreatment should last between 2-4 weeks to ensure a well synchronized germination of the highest percentage.
Some variation in temperatures appears to be acceptable with some research indicating that temperatures of around 9 Celsius give optimum results. I have previously collected cones that have contained seed that has already begun to germinate, they have managed this even in the wide range of temperature fluctuations that are naturally found outdoors.
After 2 weeks, check the seed every few days for signs of germination. Gently remove germinated seeds from the bag and plant them in a small pot containing a good quality potting compost. At this stage you may sow all of the seed, even those that have not begun to germinate. Keep them at room temperature – around 20 Celsius. Once the seedlings appear above the compost give them plenty of light, but not full sun.
Cedar species in general are prone to fungal diseases (damping off) just after germination. You can use fungicide to prevent this. Keeping the compost only slightly damp and low frequency watering combined with good air circulation and low humidity will also help greatly.
Initial growth is quite slow with seedling reaching 3-5 cm in their first year. Rate of growth will accelerate in the second and subsequent years. Keep the seedlings well watered but never leave them in standing water.
Although these trees are very tolerant of cold temperatures,whilst they are growing in containers protect the roots from severe winter frost. Once they have developed to a large enough size, perhaps after 3 or 4 years plant them in their permanent position.
It is essential that the seeds are not waterlogged in the plastic bag or they may rot.
This pretreatment should last between 2-4 weeks to ensure a well synchronized germination of the highest percentage.
Some variation in temperatures appears to be acceptable with some research indicating that temperatures of around 9 Celsius give optimum results. I have previously collected cones that have contained seed that has already begun to germinate, they have managed this even in the wide range of temperature fluctuations that are naturally found outdoors.
After 2 weeks, check the seed every few days for signs of germination. Gently remove germinated seeds from the bag and plant them in a small pot containing a good quality potting compost. At this stage you may sow all of the seed, even those that have not begun to germinate. Keep them at room temperature – around 20 Celsius. Once the seedlings appear above the compost give them plenty of light, but not full sun.
Cedar species in general are prone to fungal diseases (damping off) just after germination. You can use fungicide to prevent this. Keeping the compost only slightly damp and low frequency watering combined with good air circulation and low humidity will also help greatly.
Initial growth is quite slow with seedling reaching 3-5 cm in their first year. Rate of growth will accelerate in the second and subsequent years. Keep the seedlings well watered but never leave them in standing water.
Although these trees are very tolerant of cold temperatures,whilst they are growing in containers protect the roots from severe winter frost. Once they have developed to a large enough size, perhaps after 3 or 4 years plant them in their permanent position.
